Warning to Stahl: This is a post about a Munich label beer where I'm going to praise it at least once! I happened on this beer at one local (and one only) a couple weeks ago -- first time I've ever seen it in the Chicago area. Just wondering if anyone knows if it's commonly available in Munich during this time of year, or are they marketing to the U.S. It's an interesting brew because it's basically a Maibock or Hellesbock -- but it's nothing like the Maibock we (U.S.) have available in the Spring from HB; more traditional color and body. It's a very tasty beer, and not what I think most U.S. beer drinkers would equate to a winter seasonal. Anyone in or near Munich with info to provide, it would be appreciated. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4686/87762/?ba=steveh Looks to be the same as the "Festbier," http://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/unser-bier/biersorten/hofbraeu-festbier/ But they've altered the name for the U.S. -- and it's funny that if you switch to the English version of the site there's no Festbier!
BTW -- Drinking one of these right now and, snuffing in a good nose-full from my small Willi Becker, I realize that the spicy hop and sweet malt aroma takes me right back to Munich trips -- nothing at all like the last Miller High Life I attempted to stomach.
Yeah, but it ISN'T. Hofbräu (literally "Court Brew") used to be the private brewery of the royal bavarian court until 1918 and ever since it was run as a department of the bavarian government. Today it is an independent brewery and along with Augustiner the only remnant of the once proud München Breweries. If you want to be really generous you could add Schneider in Kelheim as a 3rd since they were evacuated there during the WW II bombing raids and just somehow never managed to return...
It isn't... what? One of those Munich breweries you love to hate? 'Cause "Today it is an independent brewery and along with Augustiner the only remnant of the once proud München Breweries." sounds like pretty high praise from you! In all seriousness, it's a pretty tasty beer for one of those Groß Stadt Brauerei.
My hate for conclomerate beer and their PO Box brands is largely ideological and has little to do with the taste or lack of such of their product. I have always maintained that HB and Augustiner are independent breweries and (though I personally do not like their beers much) I accept their existence as a facet of Bayern.
Interesting... I just took a moment to look at the HB listings here at BA and I see that the Oktoberfest and the new Spezial are both listed as 6.3% ABV. I have a bottle of this year's HB Okto left, might have to try a side-by.
This is probably something for Ron P, but I believe Bavarian Spezial is essentially a style of its own, but these days seems to be almost the same as a maerzen or Bavarian-style export. There are still brewers that label their stronger pale beers as such like Andechs and Tegernsee. Considering the Ur-Bock/Maibock from HB is copper and tastes almost like a mild doppelbock, this would work as a more traditional strong pale beer.
I was thinking the same thing. And I was thinking about the last time I tasted the HB Oktoberfest, I wasn't as impressed with the bready, character as I am with the Spezial. The Spezial also has a mild sweetness to it that's very tasty.
Okay, let's muddy the waters a little more, there's this beer in the BA listings too -- last reviewed a year ago. Label is very similar, but not called Winter Spezial. Curiouser and curiouser.
No big surprise, I guess, but these 2 beers are just about identical: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4686/87762 http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4686/2011 The Oktoberfest may be a bit drier, but that could also be my (somewhat) aged bottle from last September. I guess that means the Winter Spezial is more of a Wiesn-Märzen in style than a Maibock, but the lines are really blurring! Makes me wish I'd tried this beer back when it seems to have been available.
HB is not exactly a topic I'd call myself an expert in. However, Würzburg, as the capital of the bisphoric of Würzburg, an independent state until 1806 (I think) may well have it's own Hofbräuhaus since they had their own, completely independent court too. Not every "Hofbräu" is necessarily affiliated with München, even within Bayern. The one in Regensburg is, which is why I mentioned it to you, possibly to give you yet another reason to finally take heart (and wallet) and come visit
That I did not know, interesting... Of course, you know there are 2 affiliates* in Chicago! Not the same scenery or atmosphere, I'm sure -- but the beer is good! It really is at the top of the list. (*One hasn't opened yet)
